Santa Cruz NEXTie winners share their latest projects

SANTA CRUZ >> NEXTie winners are not the kind of people who rest on their laurels.

Since Adventure Out owner Cliff Hodges won in 2011, he opened a Crossfit gym in Watsonville, where in its first year it is his fastest-growing business — confounding naysaysers.

Since Homeless Services Center chief Monica Martinez won in 2012, she got behind a two-year community initiative that has housed 168 people who were homeless, a dozen away from reaching an "unthinkable goal" of housing 180 people by July.

Since Jacob Martinez won in 2012 for his work at ETR Associates to expose Watsonville youth to technology, he is seeking funding and support to open the Digital NEST in Watsonville, a NextSpace-like launching pad with "top of the line" computers where young people can learn skills like web page design and help promote local businesses. He welcomes volunteers at www.digitalnest.org.

No, Monica and Jacob are not siblings and not married to each other, but they are a part of an energetic NEXTie alumni fellowship making a difference in Santa Cruz County.

Eight of them spoke Wednesday night to 150 people at Event Santa Cruz, the seventh showcase at The Nick hosted by Matthew Swinnerton.

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History chief Nina Simon, 2013 NEXTie winner for her museum turnaround success, wants to turn Abbott Square downtown into a place for artists and performers, a place where people can connect.

Megan Joseph, 2013 NEXTie winner for her work as a community organizer for United Way, has started Leadership for Community Transformation, working with 81 local leaders aspiring to solve problems that so far have eluded solution.

"We are just crazy enough to think this is possible," she said.

Danny Keith, 2010 NEXTie winner for his work to end hunger for children in Santa Cruz County, said he could call any of the NEXTie winners for help and they would respond.

"People are paying attention to what I'm doing," he said.

Darrin Caddes, 2013 NEXTie winner for his innovative design work at Plantronics, pointed out Plantronics employees are among the top donors to Second Harvest Food Bank.

"Plantronics is a product of this community," he said, noting plans for a hydroponic garden to grow produce for the company cafeteria.

Analicia Cube, 2011 Nextie winner for founding Take Back Santa Cruz, encouraged the audience to pursue their dreams with faith and love and social networking.

"Follow your passion, take risks," she said. "Get your parachute ready. You're going to have skeptics, you can use that energy in a positive way."

Watsonville resident Gerardo Sandoval, attending with friends, liked the focus of the Digital Nest on youth and pointed out Watsonville has a gathering place downtown, the city block known as the Plaza.

Vasu Shastry, who gave up her tech commute over the hill in September to connect in Santa Cruz County, offered to help the Digital Nest.

For Hodges, being the first to open a gym in Watsonville was a risk, but paid off because the market was wide open, not saturated as in Santa Cruz.

He sees Watsonville as fertile ground for entrepreneurs, saying, "There's more than enough people there to support any good idea."